Active antitumor immunity elicited by vaccine based on recombinant form of epidermal growth factor receptor

J Immunother. 2005 May-Jun;28(3):236-44. doi: 10.1097/01.cji.0000161394.11831.3f.

Abstract

Active immunotherapy targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) should be another attractive approach to the treatment of EGFR-positive tumors. To test this concept, the authors evaluated the potential immune responses and antitumor activities elicited by dendritic cells pulsed with recombinant ectodomain of mouse EGFR (DC-edMER). Spleen cells isolated from DC-edMER-vaccinated mice showed a high quantity of EGFR-specific antibody-producing cells. EGFR-reactive antibody in sera isolated from vaccinated mice was identified and shown to be effective against tumors in vitro and in vivo by adoptive transfer. DC-edMER vaccine also elicited cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses that could mediate antitumor effects in vitro and adoptive transfer in vivo. In addition, EGFR-specific cytokines responses were elicited by DC-edMER vaccine. Immunization with DC-edMER resulted in tumor regression and prolonged survival in mice challenged with Lewis lung carcinomas and mammary cancer models. Depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes could completely abrogate the antitumor activity and EGFR-specific antibody responses, whereas the depletion of CD8+ T lymphocytes showed partial abrogation of the antitumor activity but antibody was still detected. Furthermore, tumor-induced angiogenesis was suppressed in DC-edMER-vaccinated mice or mice treated with antibody adoptive transfer. Taken together, these findings suggest the antitumor immunity could be induced by DC-edMER, which may involve both humoral and cellular immunity, and may provide insight into the treatment of EGFR-positive tumors through the induction of active immunity against EGFR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • Cancer Vaccines / toxicity
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ErbB Receptors / immunology
  • Immunity, Active
  • Lymphocyte Depletion
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / immunology*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / toxicity

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Cytokines
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • ErbB Receptors